In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, Michael speaks with Gary Haugen, CEO and Founder of the International Justice Mission (IJM), a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence. This conversation, titled “A Conversation on Justice and Character,” was recorded at the Center for Christianity and Public Life’s For the Good of the Public Summit and focuses on justice and character as well as the future of the justice movement. Gary shares the transformative worldwide experiences that revealed the reality of violence against the poor and inspired him to leave his job at the U.S. Department of Justice to start IJM. Listen as he discusses the organization’s work, and how Christian resources are integral to both IJM’s work, and the overall justice movement.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“Gary is someone who has operated at such a high level, whose life has been so oriented around the public good, and serving those who are–what Howard Thurman referred to as–the disinherited, and he’s done this in a way that’s not just integrated with, but supported by his faith.” -Michael [00:56]

“And that is my actual conviction and that’s our conviction at IJM, that the power to do the work of justice in the world comes from God.” -Gary [18:00]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[00:26] This week’s conversation with Gary Haugen

[01:47] Gary’s role in the start of CCPL

[04:18] IJM’s origin story

[09:33] IJM’s work in the past and today

[13:34] The shape of injustice

[19:07] The work of justice is long and boring

[21:10] The future of the justice movement

[23:16] Outro

REFERENCES